The George W. Bush Institute at the George W. Bush Presidential Center today announced the selection of eight new schools to participate in the...
DALLAS, Texas
The George W. Bush Institute at the George W. Bush Presidential Center today announced the selection of eight new schools to participate in the second year of Middle School Matters (MSM) Institute, expanding the program to 16 schools spanning four states – California, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas. MSM schools receive high-quality research-based school improvement strategies from the Bush Institute’s national experts, yearlong professional support, and an invitation to the three-day Middle School Matters Summer Conference.
The selected schools are:
- Advanced Studies Magnet-Haut Gap Middle School of Charleston County SD in Johns Island, South Carolina;
- Baytown Junior School of Goose Creek CISD in Baytown, TX;
- Grant Middle School of Corpus Christi ISD in Corpus Christi, Texas;
- Lee Middle School of San Angelo ISD in San Angelo, TX;
- Lyndon B. Johnson Middle School of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD in Pharr, TX;
- Trinity Middle School of Trinity ISD in Trinity, TX;
- Wilkinson Middle School of Mesquite ISD in Mesquite, TX; and
- Woodward Elementary School of Manteca USD in Manteca, CA.
Over the past several years, the Bush Institute, in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk at The University of Texas at Austin (MCPER), has convened numerous top national education researchers, who have translated research into practice in schools, and provided highly effective support to schools chosen to be a part of this select group.
“Through Middle School Matters, the Bush Institute builds a bridge between our top expert researchers in the field, and those in the classrooms charged with preparing our students for success in high school and post-secondary endeavors,” said Beth Ann Bryan, Interim Director of Education Reform at the George W. Bush Institute. “We are making proven strategies for success in the middle grades available to our teachers and school leaders across the nation.”
The eight newly selected schools were chosen from a pool of nationwide applicants. Sharon Vaughn, Executive Director of MCPER at the University of Texas commented, “We are thrilled at having the opportunity to work with such progressive middle schools who are committed to using proven strategies for success in the middle grades with our teachers and school leaders across the nation.”
For more information on how Middle School Matters supports middle grade educators, and to learn more about other Education Reform Initiatives at the George W. Bush Institute, please visit www.bushcenter.org.
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About Middle School Matters
Compelled by Mrs. Laura W. Bush’s conviction “Middle school is the last and best chance to prepare students for a successful high school career,” the Bush Institute founded Middle School Matters (MSM) to transform the formative middle grades so that a greater number of children are given the foundational skills needed for high school and post-secondary success.
MSM’s mission is two-fold: to transform the middle grades by promoting research-based tools, practices, and solutions and to drive the development of policies that lead to better student outcomes. MSM has two primary elements that will help us achieve these goals: 1) Promote middle grades reform through an alliance with individuals who influence decisions made for/in middle grades and 2) Develop practical tools and supports based on solid research for middle grade reform initiatives, school districts, and middle school campuses so they can drive research into their work.
Middle School Matters is possible because of the generous support of our funding partners: Bass Foundation; Meadows Foundation; Sid W. Richardson Foundation; The Brown Foundation, Inc.; Bank of America Charitable Foundation and the Esping Family Foundation.
For more information about MSM and supporting our efforts to help students successfully complete high school by building a strong foundation in the middle grades, please contact Gina Rodriguez at [email protected].
About the George W. Bush Institute
Housed within the George W. Bush Presidential Center, the George W. Bush Institute is an action-oriented, non-partisan policy organization with the mission of advancing freedom by expanding opportunities for individuals at home and across the globe. It raises current and thought-provoking issues and builds programs to address the challenges facing our Nation and our world. The work of the Bush Institute is inspired by the principles that guided the Bushes in public life: freedom is a universal human desire; free enterprise is the engine of economic prosperity; education is the foundation of a successful life; and every human life is precious. For more information, visit www.bushcenter.org, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
